Deborah

There are shrubby places near our house where I hear birds calling during the winter. I would like to plant some evergreens closer to the house to give the birds more cover there also. The small creek near our house must be providing water for the birds. Perhaps next summer I can put some flat field stones in it to help give them perching spots in shallow places. A small woods at the edge of our orchard has pine trees and oak trees in it. Someone, blue jays I suppose, brings acorns from there each year and plants them in my vegetable garden. I have gradually been focusing my perennial beds toward plants native to eastern North America in order to encourage pollinators and a diverse insect community in my yard. Happily, it seems like I've been helping the birds at the same time. I have some american hazelnut bushes for nuts, viburnums, red and black chokeberries, and a pagoda dogwood for berries. My current favorite perennial flower is probably anise hyssop. It is such a wonderful plant for bees, and last weekend some goldfinches were feasting on its seeds.